The role of general practitioners in the management of acute myocardial infarction in resource-limited settings

Acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) was one of the leading causes of death in Argentina and constituted a medical emergency requiring rapid and effective intervention. Timely care significantly reduced mortality, although challenges persisted in both the prehospital and hospital settings, especially in areas with limited resources. The annual incidence was 128 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with a hospital mortality rate of 9% and a prehospital mortality rate of 91%. General practitioners played a key role in the diagnosis and initial treatment of STEMI, highlighting the need for training in ECG interpretation, reperfusion options, drug administration, and coordinated work with emergency services. Although primary coronary angioplasty was the treatment of choice, prehospital thrombolysis was used as an alternative in regions with poor infrastructure. Strategies such as ongoing training, the development of care networks, the standardisation of prehospital protocols and the use of technologies such as telemedicine were proposed to overcome the structural barriers of the Argentine health system.